Genesis 45 4

Genesis 45:4 kjv

And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:4 nkjv

And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:4 niv

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

Genesis 45:4 esv

So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:4 nlt

"Please, come closer," he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.

Genesis 45 verses

Genesis 45 4 meaning

This verse captures the profound moment of Joseph's full revelation of his identity to his brothers. After a highly emotional encounter and Judah's impassioned plea, Joseph sends everyone away, then explicitly declares, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt." This direct statement, delivered after earlier, partial tests and concealments, immediately removes all pretense, inviting them to draw near for intimate reconciliation while confronting them with the painful truth of their past sin. It sets the stage for a moment of divine grace where their guilt gives way to God's higher purpose.

Genesis 45 4 Context

Genesis chapter 45 unfolds a moment of intense emotional revelation and reconciliation, following a series of tests and pleas. Prior to this verse, Joseph, acting as the powerful Egyptian vizier, had twice tested his brothers, initially holding Simeon and demanding Benjamin, then later placing the divining cup in Benjamin's sack. Judah, showing a transformed character, offered himself as a substitute for Benjamin, culminating in a passionate, selfless plea (Gen 44:18-34). Joseph, overwhelmed by his brothers' changed hearts and their genuine sorrow for Benjamin, could no longer control his emotions. He had sent all the Egyptian attendants out of the room, preparing for a deeply private and intensely personal interaction. This setting—Joseph's authority, the brothers' desperate situation, their remorse, and Judah's self-sacrifice—primes the scene for the profound revelation that begins in verse 4. Historically, this account occurs during the latter part of the "Middle Kingdom" period in ancient Egypt, a time when Asiatic peoples, including seminomadic groups like Joseph's family, interacted significantly with Egypt. The ongoing famine serves as the divinely orchestrated mechanism compelling the patriarchs to come to Egypt, setting the stage for the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham regarding numerous descendants and eventually their return to Canaan.

Genesis 45 4 Word analysis

• And Joseph said (וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹסֵף - Vayyomer Yosef): This marks a new declaration. "Joseph" (יוֹסֵף), meaning "he will add" or "may he add," from the Hebrew root yasaf, links to his birth and Rachel's hope for another son (Gen 30:24). Here, his name is imbued with new meaning as he will now add to the life and well-being of his family. The statement from Joseph signals the end of his testing and the beginning of explicit disclosure and grace.
• unto his brethren (אֶל־אֶחָיו - el-echav): The direct address re-establishes the core family relationship, cutting through all the hierarchical pretense. It's not the vizier addressing humble petitioners, but a brother addressing his brothers.
• Come near (גְּשׁוּ־נָא - Geshu-na): The verb nagash (גשׁ), imperative plural, "draw near," signifies an invitation to intimacy and safety, urging them to close the physical and emotional distance. It's a call to move from their posture of fear and distance to one of closeness. This contrasts with earlier fearful approaches.
• I pray you (נָא - na): This particle softens the command, making it a polite and urgent plea. It conveys deep emotion and sincerity, reflecting Joseph's yearning for immediate, personal contact.
• to me (אֵלַי - elai): Specifies the direction of drawing near. It is a personal, individual invitation from Joseph himself.
• And they came near (וַיִּגָּשׁוּ - Vayigashu): Their immediate obedience underscores the overwhelming power of Joseph's revelation and the imperative nature of his voice. Their proximity signifies trust, vulnerability, and readiness for what is to follow.
• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - Vayyomer): Repeats the introduction to a verbal statement, emphasizing the profound nature of the subsequent declaration. This is the crucial, final disclosure.
• I am Joseph (אֲנִי יוֹסֵף - Ani Yosef): The emphatic "I am" (Ani), similar in structure to later divine self-revelations in scripture, strongly asserts his true identity. It’s the pivotal statement, removing any lingering doubt. The utterance of his familiar name, spoken by someone they knew only as an Egyptian, would have struck them to their core.
• your brother (אֲחִיכֶם - achikem): This immediately specifies the familial bond that connects them, placing the revelation within the context of their shared past and lineage, confronting their past deed with the present reality of their relationship.
• whom ye sold (אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי - asher mekartem oti): The relative pronoun "whom" (asher) links "your brother" to the act of betrayal. Mekartem is from the verb makar, "to sell." The direct accusation, stated without anger but with undeniable truth, brings their darkest secret into the open. This part of the statement reveals Joseph's full awareness of their culpability, forcing them to face their sin.
• me (אֹתִי - oti): The direct object pronoun "me" emphatically underlines Joseph as the specific object of their betrayal.
• into Egypt (מִצְרָיְמָה - mitzraymah): Specifies the destination of their wicked act, confirming the painful details of their treachery.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Come near to me, I pray you": This urgent request from Joseph, given his supreme position, highlights a radical inversion of roles. Instead of the powerful lord maintaining distance, he yearns for intimate closeness with his terrified, guilty brothers. This act prefigures the drawing near initiated by God for a sinful humanity. It symbolizes a crucial first step in reconciliation, moving from fear and estrangement to vulnerable intimacy.
• "I am Joseph your brother": This powerful self-identification is the core of the entire reconciliation. It resolves the mystery, shock, and fear. The focus shifts immediately from his Egyptian identity (Zaphnath-Paaneah, Gen 41:45) and perceived foreign authority back to their shared, painful family history. The use of "I am" carries immense weight, mirroring God's self-declarations, setting the stage for the theological truth that follows: Joseph’s personal story is inextricably linked to God’s redemptive plan.
• "whom ye sold into Egypt": This phrase directly confronts the brothers with their most grievous sin. It is an unvarnished statement of their betrayal and cruelty. Yet, its inclusion by Joseph immediately precedes his profound act of forgiveness, indicating that the confrontation is not for condemnation but for full, open reconciliation based on the truth. This confrontation clears the air, validating their previous inner turmoil and remorse, allowing genuine forgiveness to take root.

Genesis 45 4 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces themes that resonate deeply throughout biblical theology:

• A "Pre-enactment" of Divine Reconciliation: Joseph's act of revealing himself, bringing near those who had rejected him, and then forgiving them despite their severe wrongdoing, serves as a poignant prefiguration of God's redemptive work. Like Joseph, Jesus was rejected and "sold" (betrayed by Judas, delivered to death), yet through His suffering, He became the means of salvation for those who repent and draw near to Him.
• The Power of Truth in Forgiveness: Joseph doesn't skirt around their sin; he names it directly. This honesty is crucial for genuine reconciliation. Without confronting the "whom ye sold," the brothers' remorse would remain vague, and the forgiveness would lack its full, liberating power. It highlights that true forgiveness acknowledges the offense fully before extending grace.
• Emotional Climax: This verse is part of the dramatic crescendo of the Joseph narrative. Joseph's sending everyone else out before his revelation amplifies the intimacy and weight of the moment, creating a sacred space for the family's healing. The brothers' silence in response to this revelation (mentioned in Gen 45:3 implicitly before this, and explicitly afterwards) indicates the overwhelming shock and realization of their offense, which adds profound depth to Joseph's subsequent comforting words.

Genesis 45 4 Commentary

Genesis 45:4 is the climatic moment of identity revelation and confrontation, preceding forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph, having observed his brothers' repentance and Judah's selfless advocacy, chooses this precise moment to reveal himself, no longer able to suppress his deep emotions. The instruction "Come near" is an imperative, yet softened with "I pray you," signaling both authority and fervent desire for renewed closeness. Their immediate obedience ("And they came near") shows their deep respect and desperate desire for clarity. The direct declaration "I am Joseph your brother" is intentionally shocking, stripping away his powerful Egyptian facade and exposing their deepest, guilt-ridden secret: "whom ye sold into Egypt." This confrontation with their past sin, delivered not with accusation or malice but with raw emotion and intent to forgive, forms the indispensable foundation for genuine restoration. It is a powerful display of grace that addresses their hidden guilt before offering healing, prefiguring how divine grace in Christ confronts our sin not to condemn, but to save and restore.